Pilathon

"The major achievement for me has been the launching of our teacher training program. Last October we kicked off with our first six-month course. We´re already training Pilates students to be tomorrow´s leaders. It doesn't get much better than that ..."

Wanderlust Weekly: Congrats on the growth of Pilathon! What inspired its creation?Emily Bench: It´s almost impossible for me to talk about inspiration without mentioning the name, Joseph Pilates. His creative genius has inspired thousands, hundreds of thousands, of people all over the world to follow his truly amazing lead and example. Pain was the reason for my discovering Pilates! Severe shoulder and upper back pain caused by bending and stooping over patient's mouths - I am a qualified dentist - obliged me to look for some kind of therapy. Lady Luck smiled and led me to a Pilates studio. Bingo!!! After just half a dozen sessions the pain had vanished! I was back to my super healthy sports-loving self; and I had fallen in love - with Pilates! I changed my career plans; gave up dentistry and trained to become a Pilates Instructor. Pilates is all about getting students to optimum health levels and keeping them there. Everyday we see clients leaving Pilathon, radiant, glowing with health, full of self-confidence and with broad smiles on their faces. Nothing could be more inspirational! The inspiration for opening was simple. Knowing that Pilates works miracles on people of all ages, shapes and sizes, and all levels of fitness and athletic ability (from the gold medal Olympic athlete to the weekend jogger; from the kid who smashes a tennis ball against a wall to a Grand Slam tournament winner). It's a medicine far better than any you can buy at any drug store. It's both curative, and I have seen many examples of that, and I believe more important, it's preventative!. We can all of us reach 100+, injury free, glowing with health and with the most amazing smiles on our faces! It is THE FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH.

Wanderlust Weekly: You've built a strong community following in Miami, what are some of your proudest moments?Emily Bench: I use the word pride very little; after all it´s one of the seven deadly sins! But we do get huge amounts of job-satisfaction and client reviews and testimonials are wonderful. Some extra highlights of the last three years:- we have a monthly Art Yoga Run - that´s an evening run round the Wynwood area with a rooftop twilight Yoga session afterwards; last year the Miami New Times selected Pilathon as one of the Top 10 gyms in Miami; in May 2016 we organised a Pilates/yoga retreat in Holbox Island, Mexico. That was very successful. But the maior achievement for me has been the launching of our teacher training program. Last October we kicked off with our first six-month course. We´re already training Pilates students to be tomorrow´s leaders. It doesn't get much better than that!

Wanderlust Weekly: Entrepreneurs are constantly evolving, what upcoming news or developments can we look forward to?Emily Bench: We have plenty of ideas! An expansion of our teacher training; specialist workshops on anatomy Pilates and posture; and who knows? the name Pilathon could soon appear in other places! [ learn more ]